Grid-lining method and machine



E. w. NEAL.

GRID LINING METHOD AND MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 17, I919- L4336 Patented Nov. 7, 11922.

MFA/ n a New York, in the county of New Patented Now 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT: OFFICE.

EARL W. NEAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 015 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW- YORK.

GRID-LINING METHOD AND MACHINE.

Application filed February 17, 1919. Serial No. 277,614.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL'W. NEAL, a citizen of the United States, residin slit or a State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Grid- Lining Method and Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to the manufacture of grid electrodes for vacuum tubes, and more particularly to methods and devices for alining and straightening the cross-wires and frames of such grids after they have been constructed in substantially their final form. a

In process of welding the fine cross-wires of certain forms of grids to the side members orframes, the cross-wires are often bent out of their proper position, which is parallel to each other and in a common plane. This, if not corrected, would result in a grid surface lacking in uniformity, and also in the danger of the grid cont-acting with one of the other electrodes in the tube. For similar reasons, it is necssary that the side wires or frames of the grid, if bent, be restored to their proper position.

It is the object of this invention-to provide a simple, easily operable device for straightening and alining grids which have become distorted as above described or from other causes.

The mechanism which has been devised to carry out this object, comprises a pair of clamps for holding opposite sides of a grid and relatively movable wedge-like spreadv ing members adapted to engage the clamps when attached to a grid and thereby to stretch the grid. The opposed faces of the spreading members have wedge-shaped grooves which may assist in alining the grid cross-wires.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view showing a grid with one of the clamps attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view partly broken away showing the spreading members; Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section showing the principal elements of the machine; Fig. 4: is an end elevation on a clamps 13 comprise a block 14 of a form 7 adapted to be inserted within the side frames 12, and pivotally connected to block 14' is a pair of manually operated jaws 15 which are normally held in dlosed position by spring 16. On the block 14: are abutments 17 which adjust the position of the grid. Similar clamps 13 are provided for each side of the grid. Cooperating with the clamps 13 are a stationary Wedge-shaped spreadlng member 18 and a movable wedgeshaped spreading member 19, the free edges of the jaws 15 being bevelled to correspond to the inclined surfaces 20 of the members 18 and 19. The movable spreading member 19 is attached to a plate21 which is mounted for vertical reciprocation on four posts 22 secured to the plate 23. The spreading member 18 is removably positioned on the plate 23 by means of guide posts or pins 24.

Referring to Fig. 4, extending upwardly from plate 21 is a rigid standard 25, and pivotally connected to standard 25 is an operating lever 26 fulcrumed to the bracket 27 which is secured to a table or other Suiable support 28. A sliding weight 29 is mounted on the outer end of lever 26, and this weight is so adjusted that the spreading member 19 is normally held in upper position. A foot lever 30 is connected to lever 26 by means of a link 31. Tapered pins 32 (Fig. 2) are attached to the movable member 19, and cooperate with recesses 33, in the stationary member 18 for the purpose of alining members 18 and 19, only one of pins 32 being shown in the drawing. The opposing faces of members 18 and 19 have a series of parallel ribs 34 having wedgeshaped grooves 35 therebetween. These grooves 35 are spaced to correspond with the cross-wires 11 of the grid.

The operation of the machine is as 017 tenedi' when the latter is in some such position as that shown in Fig. 4. Member 18 is then moved-into position between the pins 24, and the movable spreading member is depressed by means of foot-lever 30. The wedging action of members 18 and 19 exerts lateral pressure -on the clamps 13, thus stretching and straightening the crosswires 11, and at the same time the pressure on jaws l5 insures the straightening of side frames 12. The cross-wires on opposite sides of the double grid pass into the corresponding grooves 35 which assist in alining and straightenin the cross-wires.

While an embodiment of the machine has been shown and described which is adapted to straighten a double grid such as that shown at 10, it is obvious that the invention is not limited to the specific form shown but may be varied Within the limits of th appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lining machine for grids having side members and cross members connected between said side members, comprising means for clamping said side members, substantially throughout their length and means including said clamping means for placing said cross members under tension.

2. In a grid lining machine for grids having side members and cross members connected between said side members, means for clamping said side members substantially throughout their length, and means for applying force in opposite directions to said clamping means.

3. The method of straightening a grid having side Wires and cross wires, which comprises applying straightening forces to said side wires in a plurality of planes at an angle to each other, and placing said cross Wires under tension.

4. In a grid lining machine, opposed clamps for holding a grid, each jaw of each of said clamps having provision for clamping said grid at a plurality of widely separated points, a support for said clamps, and means for moving said clamps apart.

5. In a grid lining machine, clamps for holding a grid, a support for said clamps, and wedge-shaped means for forcing said clamps in opposite directions.

6. In a grid lining machine, clamps for holding a grid, a wedge-shaped support for said clamps, and means for forcing said clampstowards the base of said support.

7. In a grid lining machine, clamps for holding a grid, a wedge-shaped support for said clamps, and wedge-shaped means movable towards said support for forcing said clamps in opposite directions.

8. In a grid lining machine for grids having parallel cross members, means for stretching said cross members includin a wedge-shaped member, said member having grooves at intervals corresponding to said cross members.

9. In a grid lining machine for grids having parallel cross members, means for stretching said cross members including a Wedge-shaped member, said member having wedge-shaped grooves at intervals corresponding to said cross members.

10. In a grid lining machine, a platform, a member mounted for vertical movement above said platform, a removable grid'support, means for positioning said support beneath said member, and means for gripping the edges of said rid, said means cooperating with said mem er to aline said grid.

11. A machine comprising clamps for holdin an article to be operated upon, a support for said clamps, and wedge-shaped means for forcing said clamps in opposite directions.

12. A machine comprising clamps for holding an article to be operated upon, a wedgeshaped support for said clamps, and Wedgeshaped means movable towards said support for forcing said clamps in opposite directions.

13. A clamp for grids having loop-shaped side members, comprising a block adapted to be inserted in one of said side members, and jaws pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said block, each of said jaws hIlVlIlg a surface for pressing said side member against said block, and a surface for applymg pressure to said side member in a different direction.

14. A clamp for grids having loop-shaped,

side members, comprising a block a apted to be inserted in one of said side members, jaws pivotally mounted on opposite sides of said block, each of said aws having a surface for pressing said side member against said block and a surface for appl ing pressure to said side member in a di erent direction, and means yieldably holdin said jaws in clamping position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of January A. D.,

EARL W. NEAL. 

